Others may object but I find airbrushing easy. The first time I used one, and I got a perfect spray. No orange peel, no fisheyes, just a nice flat even coat. When I first started handpainting with a brush, I kept getting brush marks. Even now I still get em from time to time.

Airbrushing has the highest start up cost, but allows for much greater flexibility and effects, while hand brushing is relatively cheap, but requires extensive practice and/or great skill to achieve a passable finish. Of course you can't just get one or the other. Even with an airbrush you will require brushes for detail work and washes and among other things.

I personally like Enamels over Acrylics and Lacquers. I live in NYC so Lacquer fumes are way too nasty. Tamiya acrylics with the exception of their clear/smokes are crap every time I've tried em. PollyScale acrylics I've been using more frequently as they seem to be alot more durable are available in many more shades. Oh and hand brushing with acrylics is a big no no. I primarily work with Testors Model Master line of enamels as they seem to have the perfect balance of toxicity and durability. Fumes are bareable and they seem more durable than the acrylics I've been using. I also use artist oils for panel washes.

BTW if you're going to get an airbrush, you MUST get a face mask with organic paint filters. Not one of those cheapo dirt/dust masks, but a real painters mask.

OMG. Airbrushing does require a high start-up cost. A compressor costs 450 bucks in Aus, and a good airbrush is around 60 bucks i think? Then, there's the paint and the mask. And pretty much a new desk with lamp on it. Hmmm, modelling IS a high cost hobby, like my photography hobby. Lolz

A$60 for airbrush?
Mate where you can get the high quality one at that price - and I mean not those Taiwan made ones?
Iwata cost way more than that... T^T

Just in case no one has mentioned this yet:

1/100 Legend apparently contains parts so that the stand will be compatible with your 1/100 Destiny, Strike Freedom, or Infinite Justice (in case you do not have a stand for any of those).

Just passing along what my friend in Japan told me.

It shouldn't be THAT expensive. I bought my startup setup; compressor and a Badger 360 for around 280 USD like 3 years ago. You could probably by the same thing for around 200 now. I also bought a Badger 150 for around $70 USD as a secondary/backup airbrush. Its a great steal at the price.

Price of an MG Sazabi Kit: $90
Price of rebuilding it the first time: $10 (base, paints, etc)
Price of Core Works Sazabi Conversion Kit: $180
Price of rebuilding the Sazabi to incorporate the above conversion kit: $50

Having Yutaka Izubuchi (Designer of the Sazabi) siting down infront of the third rebuilt Sazabi, signing the Sazabi's shield.... Priceless

Wow, doesn't get much better than that. Nicely done.

That is awesome.

Is the Core Works Strike Freedom conversion set completely out of stock for good?

wow i bow down to you gamera, that is f-in sweet!!!

That is what their website at http://cw-shop.co.kr/ has been telling though.

Needs translation of what MG kit to what conversion kit from CORE-WOrKS plz >.> .

Ah damn, I want an MG Strike Freedom BADLY in some way, the 1/100 looks horribly disproportioned, the 1/144 is too small, and the 1/60 is far too large >.<
The 1/100 scale range only needs the Akatsuki's (if they're not planning to release a Saviour 1/100 or Blast Impulse) and then I guess they'll move on to making Master Grades? Aside from the Freedom Extra Finish of course.

How long did it take for the release of MG Aile Strike and Freedom to be released after the first SEED finished release?
An MG SF would probably my last, final prime model I'd ever get, unless another overpowered, better mecha is released, lol v.v...

I think MG Aile Strike was out in early 2003...check dalong for more info.

it does pops up on Yahoo Japan from time to time.
expect to pay around 15000-20000 yen if you can get one

I thought you were awesome before, but now you're truly a God amongst men.

Strike was out in 2003, Freedom in the summer of 2004, so unless any Destiny MG's comes out this year it's probably destined for next year.

gamera, how was the whole anime con event? could you give us a recap on how the tutorial thing went?

The con went very well... to an extent. Major issues like lining up to get tickets for an event only to line up again after getting said tickets to go to an event.... lame. Folks invariably spent 6 hours in line to see a less than spectacular Masquarade....

But in terms of the model building workshop.. I think it went very well... The model competition has the same complaints I've had about it since last year's pathetic contribution level. More on that here:
Con report complete with pictures and my commentary on things.
http://www.gamerabaenre.com/ax_2006.htm

this one is out!!!!

http://www.1999.co.jp/dbimages/user/...g/10049595.jpg

1/144hg verde buster preview

http://www.gundambase.com/community/...1&news_idx=232

http://www.gundambase.com/imagedata/20060706/VERDE1.jpg

gundam perfect grade model spare parts??
 

Hi Guys,
I have recently completed a perfect grade gundam RX-78-2 kit (as pictured on this page: http://www.gundamstoreandmore.com/rxgunpergrad.html) -- and to my horror I realize I've somehow lost the small red part that goes smack in the center of his forehead! I've looked everywhere (including tearing open every vacuum bag in the house) and have given up hope. Can anyone think of any way I might be able to get my hands on a replacement for this part, (short of buying a whole new robot)? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

gundam perfect grade model spare parts??
 

Hi Guys,
I have recently completed a perfect grade gundam RX-78-2 kit (as pictured on this page: http://www.gundamstoreandmore.com/rxgunpergrad.html) -- and to my horror I realize I've somehow lost the small red part that goes smack in the center of his forehead! I've looked everywhere (including tearing open every vacuum bag in the house) and have given up hope. Can anyone think of any way I might be able to get my hands on a replacement for this part, (short of buying a whole new robot)? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

its a little dishonest but you could buy a new model, take the part from it and return it :heh:

You can e-mail Bandai and request a replacement part, but since you lost it, they will only do this for you once. They fix broken parts damaged prior to delivery as many times as needed, but they require pictures of the damaged part still in the bags the sprues come in.

http://www.bandai.com/contact/contac...erservice.html

thanks for that very useful pointer! -- I hope they'll supply me with a part for a japanese kit -- I guess that's why it didn't occur to me to go to them in the first place.

Yeah, they will. The PG RX-78 was released in the US, and if they do realize it was an imported one, they will direct you to Bandai Japan. I had broken the wing connector on my 1/60 Force Impulse kit and they had me email Bandai Japan and they took care of me (and it's all in English too, which of course is helpful)

OMFG...that boxart looks insane! :twitch:

hi i just bought this air compressor, http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92403
im going to to use it for airbrushing, but right now i dont have an airbrush to test it on. My question is do i need to buy another adapter and regulator for airbrush to control the airflow and connect the airbrush to the compressor. ANother question is when i turn it on it reads 0 psi on the pressure gauge. is that normal?

I know, I know, it doesn't look that good, but I'm trying. :-)
Hopefully my next model will be better than this one.

http://members.aol.com/legend183/HG144_Freedom/01.jpg
http://members.aol.com/legend183/HG144_Freedom/02.jpg
http://members.aol.com/legend183/HG144_Freedom/03.jpg
http://members.aol.com/legend183/HG144_Freedom/04.jpg
http://members.aol.com/legend183/HG144_Freedom/05.jpg

Hey man don't put your work down I think you did a pretty good job on it. It looks good for a HG kit, it is a HG right. As you do more your skills will improve and the models will keep getting better but that is still pretty good work. I congradulate you on a job well done you seem to have put at least a fair amount of detail work in .:)

Thanks man...
I painted the whole kit from top to bottom including the white color.

A lot of painting required for this model, because most of the parts came in one color only. Either white or gray color. As you know, Freedom has a lot of color and details.

Yeah you picked good colors that freedom kit did not come in many of the right colors so the paint made it look very good. As you get more experience you should think about getting higher grade model's. Like I bought a master grade freedom the color's are right on the money and the detail is great only needs minor work. But if you like lots of detailing the HG are good. Well anyway from what I have seen you are on your way to being a great model maker.

LOL! Thanks, you really boost my confidenance.

This is what I'm working on right now.
Gundam BB-274 Shonen Houshi Kiri-Maru Model Kit
http://tisinc99.stores.yahoo.net/gd131426.html

I'm building it for my little sister.
This time, I'll try to fill all the seams and prime it before painting.

Hey your welcome man that's what the forums are here for to get advice and encouragement. I think it's really nice that your building that for your little sister she is lucky. And filling in the seams is always a good idea things like that will help enhance the overall look of the model. Well keep practicing your skills and in no time you will be making very fine models. Post up your future works too that's how you'll get better you can get advice on what is good, what isn't and hopefully get alot of positive feedback to boost up your confidence. :)

beyon, not bad with the first try, in all comes with practice ^_^ you should have seen my nt alex gundam when i first painted him haha, the red was soo off >_< and in vaious shades!

Looking at the description, you need a regulator for pressure control. As for the 0 PSI, obviously if one end is open, there is no pressure being built. Try putting ur finger over the end of the hose and push back the air. The pressure gauge should read something other than 0 PSI.

Every time I tried to contact bandai about damaged/badly molded parts due to their inability to do quality control, they ignored me :rolleyes:

Thats odd, I've never had them ignore me about any issue related to QC problems. The only time I didn't get a fix done was when I complained about the GP01 kit and the poor molding on one of the leg parts, but I was basically told they were aware of the issue.

The biggest problem with the policy for parts damaged during shipping is that it's hard to inspect the sprues while in the bags, so sometimes you can't tell until it is too late.

Got some pics from my first ever unfinished MS model, Zaku Phantom.
Painting was just hell with handbrush and those sticky Revell colors (You just cant find Tamiya colors from Finland I think)
And when I started this there has been so goddamn hot in my room because of warm days (outside +29c, in my room +36c :eyespin: )

Things I did:
-Painted in my own scheme(White,Mouse Grey,Blueish Grey,Red)
-Did custom Mono-eye from piece of transparent plastic
-Sticked some of my older decals in it.
-Weathered it to look really dirty and war-torn

Still things to do:
-Finish Wizard pack and spare clips of rifle
-Add some more dust on it
-Find a good base for it (Diorama maybe?)

Now the pics!
http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8659/dsc012803tx.jpg
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/48/dsc012824bl.jpg
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/3544/dsc012846uf.jpg
http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/9445/dsc012857qj.jpg
Pic quality aint the best available but like I care!

Opinions&Constructive criticism welcomed

This is my 4th attempt to put Ver. Ka armour onto OYW frame.
This time I'm going the full hog and use entire OYW frame unlike my previous models - while watching Law and Order on the telly. ^ ^

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/2115/dscn00851ff.jpg

I got the little bit crushed Ver. Ka kit for almost nothing so I grab the semi-finished OYW and stripped it into the frame and start to test fitting the Ver. Ka armour pieces on to it. Yea you need to do some elbow work to get the thing stick on the frame as OYW and Ver. KA use entirely different frames.

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/4336/dscn00886qt.jpg
Decided to use OYW face in Ver. Ka helmet.

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/4836/dscn00891sj.jpg
Test fitting Ver. Ka armour onto OYW leg frame.

http://img485.imageshack.us/img485/6559/dscn00984hk.jpg
Done with both feets.

Also done the front and rear skirt plus the groin parts - lower section is pretty much all done now except some minor detailing up.

Currently doing the mixing front and rear skirts as well as putting Ver. Ka groin armours onto OYW frame...
All in all about three hours of playing with parts. :D

I find it odd they released an Amatsu. I am still eagerly awaiting a 1/100 Forbidden, Raider, Calamity, Gaia, Abyss, and the various "grunt" suits from CE.